This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

If you thought all geeks were shy poindexters, think again. Turns out some are just as boisterous, beer-loving and as rowdy as World Cup fans. Just ask Patrick Orlob, a 31-year-old tech analyst by day and trivia master by night.

Since Geeks Who Drink began a year and a half ago in bars around Salt Lake City, hundreds of Utahns have been abandoning their computer screens and video games for a chance to socialize and test their trivia knowledge.

"I've always been a big fan of trivia games, and I'm a little competitive, so it was a perfect fit," Orlob said.

Geeks Who Drink was created in 2006 by John Dicker, a Denver freelance journalist who initially posted the event on Craigslist on a whim. Now, events are held in more than 100 bars across the country, including five in Salt Lake. Utahns from varying backgrounds and ages turn up in hordes. Piper Down is the busiest venue here, attracting on average 120-200 people to the weekly event.

"Right now, it feels like we're still in our infancy, but it's definitely continuing to grow," said Salt Lake quizmaster Nick Johnson. "It's kind of like having a few friends over for a game night, but more amped up. And it's really all about having fun and finding a common ground with friends and complete strangers."

The national organization of Geeks Who Drink hires local quizmasters, like Johnson, who hold court during the weekly trivia contest. They also contribute new, original questions for the events. Dicker says he and his team are constantly churning out material so no quiz is ever repeated. But they insist the questions aren't meant as brain-busters.

"We're not a scholastic college bowl," Dicker said. "We place an emphasis on humor and entertainment."

Geeks Who Drink is particularly popular because it's socially interactive, Dicker said. That's in contrast to more traditional bar entertainment, such as karaoke or live music, which usually consists of watching other people onstage with a mic.

And while pub trivia is relatively new in these parts, it seems that Americans are a little late to the game. These social events have been massively popular in Europe and Australia for decades, "sort of like their version of bowling leagues," Johnson said.

But, if the idea of answering questions in front of a packed room has you suffering from stage fright, don't worry; the game was designed to take the pressure off. "You're never put on the spot because you're part of a team," Dicker said. "It's not like you're up [onstage] with the 'Jeopardy!' buzzer."

The trivia game itself is simple: Teams of up to six people are pitted against other groups to see who can answer the most questions correctly. There are eight rounds of eight questions, each with different themes. Some questions require participants to identify songs, TV shows or movies from an audio clip. Others ask for more general knowledge. Winning and losing teams receive prizes.

One of the defining parts of the event is a choosing a team name, which can change or stay the same week to week. As might be expected with a room full of trivia-lovers who may have already enjoyed a pint or two, the team names have morphed into a battle of wits to see who can come up with the most clever or bizarre designation. Group names have even been used as surprise announcements to other teammates, Johnson said.

"One team was keeping the name a secret from another player," he said. "So I brought the guy up and told him his team name was 'Guess what, Kevin? Your wife is pregnant!' "

You can expect to see such shenanigans and everything else in between during trivia night. For Johnson, it only adds to the fun.

"After Piper Down, it looks like I ran a half-marathon," Johnson joked. "It's an adrenaline rush, because there are complete strangers who have common ground because you're there to provide them with entertainment. People who say 'I'm not good at trivia' need to come out and try it. Once they do, they're hooked!"

agreenleigh@sltrib.com Trivia me this

Five Salt Lake City-area bars hold weekly trivia events throughout the week. The schedule:

Devil's Daughter • 533 S. 500 West, Salt Lake City; Mondays, 8 p.m.

A Bar Named Sue • 3928 S. Highland Drive, Holladay; Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

The Huddle Sports Bar & Grill • 2400 E. Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights; Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Piper Down • 1492 S. State St., Salt Lake City; Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Lumpy's • 145 Pierpont Ave., Salt Lake City; Thursdays, 8 p.m.

Info • For more information, visit http://www.geekswhodrink.com.